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B 24 Liberator units of the United States Army Air Forces

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B-24 Liberator units of the United States Army Air Forces

This is a list of United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator combat units during World War II including variants and other historical information. Heavy bomber training organizations primarily under II Bomber Command in the United States and non-combat units are not included.

Contents

The USAAF took delivery of its first B-24As in June 1941, although the B-24D was the first production model delivered in quantity in July 1942. B-24s were assigned to every combat Air Force; at peak inventory, the USAAF had 6,043 B-24 Liberators operating worldwide in September 1944.

Following the end of World War II, the Liberator was rapidly withdrawn from USAAF service, being replaced by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Literally thousands of Liberators were flown to various disposal units where they were cut up for scrap. Some brand-new late-production B-24Ms from Convair/San Diego were flown directly from the factory door to the scrapyard at RFC Kingman, Arizona in June 1945, as the war in Europe had ended and B-29s were doing most of the long-range bombing work in the Pacific.

Only a few Liberators were still around when the United States Air Force was formed in 1947, most of them being used for various research purposes. The last USAF Liberator, a Ford EZB-24M-20-FO serial number 44-51228 used by the Aeronautical Icing Research Laboratory for ice research, was struck off the rolls in 1953. For a time, it was on display at Lackland AFB, Texas, with the armament and gunner positions restored. It is currently at the American Museum at Duxford Aerodrome, England painted as 44-50492, a B-24M that was assigned to the 392d Bombardment Group, 578th Bombardment Squadron.

Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command

Established in October 1942 to deal with the U-boat threat; formed largely from the resources of I Bomber Command. Inactivated in August 1943 when antisubmarine mission was taken over by the United States Navy.

Fifth Air Force

Originally formed as the Philippine Department Air Force in August 1941; Stationed in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) of the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). Operating in the Far East, Australia, New Guinea and Philippines. Participated in halting the Japanese drive in Papua, recovery of New Guinea, liberation of the Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.

  • 20th Combat Mapping Squadron
    • Activated with F-7As in October 1943 (later flew F-7B/F-7B H2X) Operated from Australia, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines, Okinawa, Occupied Japan Inactivated 1946

    Sixth Air Force

    Sixth Air Force begin in February 1917, formally established as Panama Canal Air Force on October 1940. Control of USAAF operations in the Caribbean. Primarily flew antisubmarine patrols over both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean approaches to the Panama Canal.

  • 6th Bombardment Group
    • Received LB-30s (March 1942) and B-24Ds (September 1942) 3d Bombardment Squadron 25th Bombardment Squadron 29th Bombardment Squadron 74th Bombardment Squadron 395th Bombardment Squadron 397th Bombardment Squadron 6th BG reassigned to United States in November 1943; B-24s remained with various 6th AF squadrons under VI Bomber Command until 1946

    Seventh Air Force

    Initially formed as the Hawaiian Air Force in October 1940. Operated primarily in Central Pacific Area (CPA) of the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO).

    Eighth Air Force

    Was primary heavy bombardment Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II, stationed in England. Mission was conducting long-range strategic bomber offensive against Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. The first Liberator mission from England took place on October 9, 1942. Several VIII Bomber Command Liberator groups deployed aircraft to Libya in late 1942 and 1943 to augment IX Bomber Command and carry out attacks against Axis targets in the Mediterranean. Ultimately a total of twenty-one Liberator-equipped groups were deployed and operated with the Eighth Air Force 2d and 3d Bombardment Divisions.

    Ninth Air Force

    IX Bomber Command operated Liberators from airfields in Egypt; Libya and Tunisia during the Western Desert Campaign (1942–1943). Transferred B-24s to Twelfth Air Force in October 1943; reassigned to England to become tactical air force supporting American First Army (IX Tactical Air Command), Third Army (XIX Tactical Air Command), and Ninth Army (XXIX Tactical Air Command).

    Tenth Air Force

    Constituted February 1942. Moved to India March–May 1942. Primary USAAF Air Force in the China-Burma-India theater.

  • 7th Bombardment Group
    • Formed September 1918; deployed to Philippines September 1940; withdrawn to Australia late December 1941; combat in Java Jan-March 1942; deployed to India. Transitioned from B-17C/Ds to B-24s at Karachi, March 1942 9th Bombardment Squadron 436th Bombardment Squadron 492d Bombardment Squadron 493d Bombardment Squadron Inactivated December 1945

    Eleventh Air Force

    Formed February 1942. Based in Alaska Territory. Engaged in combat with B-24s during Aleutian Campaign (1942–1943). First B-24 raid on Japanese Home Islands in 1943.

  • 28th Composite Group
    • Received LB-30s and B-24s at Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 1942 21st Bombardment Squadron 36th Bombardment Squadron 404th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated October 1945

    Twelfth Air Force

    Formed November 1942. Operated B-24s in Algeria, Tunisia and Sicily. Transferred Liberators to Fifteenth Air Force in November 1943, becoming tactical air force in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) primarily supporting Fifth Army (XII Tactical Air Command) in Italy, also operating in Southern France and Germany supporting Seventh Army.

    Twelfth Air Force had several B-17 Flying Fortress groups which were transferred from VIII Bomber Command in England when the command was formed in the fall of 1942. In Tunisia, the Liberator-equipped 98th and 376th Bombardment Groups were briefly transferred from Ninth Air Force in October 1943 to the command. All of Twelfth AF's heavy bomb groups were reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force in November.

    Thirteenth Air Force

    Formed on December 14, 1942. Operated primarily in South Pacific Area (SPA) of the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO)

  • 868th Bombardment Squadron
    • Established in July 1943 with SB-24 RADAR aircraft; assigned directly to 13th AF Headquarters. Flew low level, anti-shipping strikes under the cover of darkness. Also flew as pathfinders for high-altitude bombers. Special missions were flown against land targets at night and one of the intentions was to prevent the Japanese from sleeping. Stationed in Solomon Islands, Admiralty Islands, Schouten Islands, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines, Okinawa. Inactivated December 1945

    Fourteenth Air Force

    Formed out of the American Volunteer Group in March 1943 in Kunming, China. Primary United States Air Force in China as part of the China-Burma-India Theater

  • 308th Bombardment Group
    • Formed with B-24s in April 1942; deployed to China in March 1943 373d Bombardment Squadron 374th Bombardment Squadron 375th Bombardment Squadron 425th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated October 1945

    Fifteenth Air Force

    Activated in Tunisia on November 1, 1943. Primary strategic bombardment Air Force of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) operating from airfields in Southern Italy. Had 15 B-24 groups. Bombing raids against targets in Italy, then took part in raids on Germany, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Romania. Supported the invasion of southern France.

  • 98th Bombardment Group; 376th Bombardment Group
    • Previously served with both the Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces before being assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force in November 1943. Stationed in Tunisia and later Southern Italy. Inactivated November 1945.
  • 2641st Special Group (Provisional)
    • Assigned directly to 15th AF Headquarters. Flew B-17s, B-24s and other aircraft types as needed. Engaged in special operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, December 1944-May 1945 859th Bombardment Squadron 885th Bombardment Squadron

    Twentieth Air Force

    Constituted April 1944. Primarily equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses but there were two reconnaissance squadrons equipped with B-24s and F-7s that were stationed on the Northern Mariana Islands. Both units reported to XXI Bomber Command Headquarters.

  • 3d Reconnaissance Squadron
    • Active September 1944-September 1945. Flew photographic, electronic, and weather reconnaissance missions in Western Pacific
  • 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
    • Activated as 655th Reconnaissance Squadron, January 1945; redesignated June 1945. Flew weather reconnaissance flights for XXI Bomber Command headquarters target and route planning for bombardment missions. Inactivated April 1946.

    References

    B-24 Liberator units of the United States Army Air Forces Wikipedia
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